Counter Intelligence

IF YOU WANT THE SLEEK LOOK OF MARBLE OR CONCRETE WITHOUT THE MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS, YOU’RE IN LUCK. OUR TOP-RATED COUNTERTOP MATERIALS OFFER THE WINNING COMBINATION OF BEAUTY AND DURABILITY IN A WIDE RANGE OF STYLES.

We stained, sliced, scratched, scorched, and nicked 14 countertop materials to test how well they’ll stand up to use in a kitchen. Spoiler alert: Quartz continues to impress our testers on every front. The manufactured stone offers a look that’s realistic, resembling even rare and delicate materials surprisingly well. But it’s not the only option that’s durable. Old favorites like granite and laminate also took their share of abuse on the chin. Read on for all the details. • SMART SHOPPING Pay attention to these points as you plan your new countertops. SAMPLE SIZE Tiny swatches or pictures can’t give you a good sense of how a countertop material will look in your kitchen. So ask for a sample that’s as large as the retailer can get. For natural stone, such as granite or…

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Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning and Buying Guide (Digital) - 1 Issue, July 2020

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